Merry Christmas 2011!

Photos by Lauren E. Sykes

dpp 25 {2011}

Thankful for Jesus! Merry Christmas!

dpp 24 {2011}

Thankful for Carols by Candlelight with our church family downtown.

dpp 23 {2011}

Thankful for the Gordon Family.

Their friendship is a gift.

dpp 22 {2011}

Thankful for my friend Jenny and her lovely family and bumping into them unexpectedly.

dpp 21 {2011}

Thankful for these smiles!

dpp 20 {2011}

Thankful for new garbage cans, actually silliness in new garbage cans.

dpp 19 {2011}

Thankful for their Daddy-Daughter relationship (& stare contests).

Arrived!

Nana & Grandpa have arrived! May the Christmas week festivities begin.

dpp 18 {2011}

Thankful for neighborhood kids at play.

Gabby catching and scoring!

The Karate Kid

Matthew was invited to test for his solid yellow belt this afternoon. Once Matthew turned 7 he was no longer considered a Lion Cub (4-6 year olds). As a 7 year old he now joins the older kids and participates in a longer class. He is expected to know more moves and combinations in his new class. As a Lion Cub your belts consisted of a white stripe going through them. This belt series will consist of a black stripe running through them. Eventually, the belts Matt will earn in this series will lead to a black belt. He is still a far way off, but something to strive for.

Punching and breaking the board. The final part of his testing.

Congratulations Matt on earning your yellow belt!

dpp 17 {2011}

Thankful for our adopt-a-grandma Ann.

Today we visited with Ann and exchanged gifts. We made ornaments, ate delicious cookies and got a visit from Santa. It has been a joy to have Ann in our lives.

dpp 16 {2011)

Thankful for our friend Patty.

She opened up her home to host Christmas story time. She read two beautiful books and we sipped hot cocoa and ate popcorn, cookies and goldfish. A fun time was had by all!

dpp 15 {2011}

Thankful for our Co-op Family.

Today we attended the Nutcracker. Our good friend and her daughter were in the performance this year. We were all thrilled to witness this special moment in their lives and enjoy such a lovely show.

dpp 14 {2011}

Thankful for Mrs. Patterson, Gabby & Matthew's piano teacher.

She has taught our children to take joy in making music.

dpp13 {2011}

Thankful for Mrs. Nikki Gabby's ballet teacher.

She is teaching Gabby to praise the Lord through dance.

dpp 12 {2011}

Thankful for the colors that make Christmas so lovely & merry.

dpp 11 {2011}

Thankful for the beautiful music they play.

Today was Gabby & Matthew's Christmas Piano Recital. It was for students only. Their sweet teacher cooked and baked up goodies for them to enjoy after they performed for one another. I was told they both did a fabulous job. It is such a joy to hear them play.

dpp 10 {2011}

Thankful for nap time. :)

dpp 9 {2011}

Thankful for Matt's creativity & joy in what he accomplished.

dpp 8 {2011}

Thankful for our little friend Chico.

dpp 7 {2011}

Thankful for my iphone 4s and Siri who have kept me organized and well informed this time of year. :)

dpp 6

Thankful for new decorations that help enhance our Christmas Celebration.

dpp 5

Thankful for creating art with friends.

dpp4

Thankful for our Jesse Tree Advent readings &

Sunday NFL football.

DPP 3

Thankful for surprise victories.

Thankful for family time decorating the tree.

December Photo Project 2011 Day 2

Thankful for all his funny faces.

Thankful for precious friends and park play dates.

Thankful for the discovery of a new sandwich shop.

December Photo Project 2011 Day 1

This year will be the second year that I participate in the December Photo Project Challenge. Capture one picture every day for 25 days. I enjoyed it last year and I am looking forward to the challenge this year. This year I am desiring to shoot with a theme in mind...thankfulness. I can't guarantee that will happen each day but I am sure going to try. So, here it goes with the first day.

I am thankful for the silliness I discover throughout the day.

I found Alex on top of the washing machine (which has a window) watching the the clothes go through a wash cycle.

I am thankful for new life.

For the DPP challenge I only need to take one picture a day. Most days I know that will be a challenge but I could not resist posting this one as well. Greg had given me these mums months back just because. They brought such beauty to our home and then eventually died. I set them out back on the back porch with all the other dead plants. Well, guess what has sprouted new life? My mums. The contrast between the new blooms and the old dead ones makes me mindful and thankful for how God gives us life, new life in Him.